BoardSource, the only national organization focused exclusively on good governance for nonprofit boards, gathered a group of governance experts who together identified and explored the common characteristics of exceptional boards, distilling their essential qualities and practices.

They discovered that while responsible boards may be competent stewards, exceptional boards, as is illustrated here with 12 principles, see their governance role not merely as one of fiduciary oversight and compliance management, but as an opportunity for creativity and collaboration in how they support their chief executive – and each other, to advance the cause they all serve. Exceptional boards move well beyond competence by collaborating with thoughtfulness and intentionality. It’s this difference which becomes the force multiplier of the exceptional board.

Request your copy now. It's free to League members through a partnership the League has established with BoardSource.

True participation on a board encompasses much more than just giving money or serving on committees. Board members have a fiduciary responsibility to effectively conduct the financial affairs of their organization in order to ensure its success.

These responsibilities may be easily assumed by board members with a finance background, but what about those with no financial expertise? Boards may delegate certain tasks to committees with the requisite financial acumen, but ultimately, decision-making responsibility is the board's alone.

This guide is designed to equip board members with the concepts and tools necessary to understand and manage their financial responsibilities, for example:

Chapter 1 covers both general and specific financial responsibilities of boards.

Chapter 2 defines the responsibilities of each board position.

Chapter 3 describes internal controls and procedures.

There's also a primer on financial statements and audits, suggestions for managing out-sourced experts, and more.

Request your copy now. It's free to League members through a partnership the League has established with BoardSource, the only national organization focused exclusively on good governance for nonprofit boards.

Free to League Members: Informed Fundraising: An Introduction and Guide

Leaders of nonprofits large and small are familiar with the problem. They are just not successful enough in raising the money they want or need.

The authors of this new BoardSource e-bookInformed Fundraising: An Introduction and Guide suggest that too many organizations – particularly smaller and/or newer organizations – invest their limited resources in unproductive ways simply because they do not understand the proven practices of effective fundraising.

This guide is designed to equip board members, chief executives, and those responsible for development with the concepts and tools used by successful fundraisers to build effective fundraising programs.

The book’s sections focus on what the authors have identified as the three key components of effective fundraising:

Understanding: discusses the concepts and components of successful fundraising programs

Preparation: describes the development of fundraising goals and plans

Execution: examines the process of soliciting prospects and measuring success

If your organization seeks to understand and adopt the proven practices of successful fundraising programs, request your copy now. It’s free to League Members through a partnership the League has established with BoardSource, the only national organization focused exclusively on good governance for nonprofit boards.